IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
What to Ask Vet Tech Programs
At this point you should have selected which veterinary credential that you wish to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the San Luis Obispo CA area as well as across the USA, you must ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many potential students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have previously touched on other essential qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to select a program that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are considering.
Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It's important that you verify that the veterinary technician school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously mentioned, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a demanding screening process that ensures you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is often a prerequisite for employment for many San Luis Obispo CA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.
What is the College's Reputation? The veterinary college or trade school and program you choose should have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian community. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include checking with internet school rating websites and checking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions regarding your targeted schools. As a final tip, get in touch with some San Luis Obispo CA vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They may even suggest one or more colleges not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The best approach to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Find out if the colleges you are considering have internship programs established with San Luis Obispo CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop associations in the local veterinarian community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.
Is Job Placement Provided? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech school may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A lower rate may mean that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could signify that the program has an outstanding reputation within the San Luis Obispo CA veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might signify that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.
How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you most likely will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the San Luis Obispo CA schools you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the School Located? Yes, we already covered location, but there are several more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your San Luis Obispo CA home, you need to make certain that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located close by or within a large city. In addition, if you do choose to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees especially for state and community colleges. Of course taking online classes might be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it's essential that you find out if the veterinarian schools you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near San Luis Obispo CA. Some may only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of sickness, work or family issues. You may find that an online college is the ideal way to fit your vet education into your active life.